Last weekend, one of Steven’s colleagues hosted a backyard BBQ party in Crofton, a coastal town up-island. We decided this was a great excuse for a sail, so we took the opportunity to circumnavigate Salt Spring Island in the course of the weekend.

We set out Friday, and headed to our usual stomping grounds of Montague Harbour. Strong tail winds pushed us along quickly, and we picked up a mooring can with lots of time to bask in the afternoon sun as we read and prepared dinner aboard.

Saturday we got our usual 10am start, and we sailed through moderate, light and heavy weather at various points in the day. It also varied from hot and sunny to dark and pouring. After some confusion over whether or not the pulp mill is in Chemainus or Crofton, we motored toward the public dock at Crofton. To find it utterly packed.

After some cursing, and a quick call to the BBQ, we motored into Sansum Narrows and Maple Bay, which was a delight in more ways than one. The sun came out, the marina at Bird’s Eye Cove is lovely and reasonably priced, and the BBQ sent a search party to give us a lift to Crofton.

Heading home on Sunday was the usual long slog beating to windward. We did, however, sail through much of Sansum Narrows, and caught a glimpse of a family of seals sunbathing at a beacon.